Townsend's Big-eared Bat (Plecotus townsendii)

About Townsend's Big-eared Bat (Plecotus townsendii)

• Kingdom: Animals
• Phylum: Chordates
• Class: Mammals
• Order: Bats
• Family: Vespertilionidae

Most western populations of Corynorhinus townsendii live in montane forest. This type of forest is thick with pine, fir and aspen trees and is bounded by shrub and grasslands. At higher elevations, the surrounding vegetation is subalpine. Corynorhinus townsendii pallescens lives in an arid habitats with limited desert scrub vegetation, but stops short of living in extreme desert environments. Corynorhinus townsendii townsendii inhabit the humid coastal area of the Pacific Northwest. Eastern populations of Corynorhinus townsendii are generally found in oak-hickory forests.

Corynorhinus townsendii individuals choose roosting sites most commonly in caves, cliffs, and rock ledges but have been found in abandoned mines and other man-made structures. Colonies normally choose relatively cold places for roosting, and pick hibernacula with a considerable amount of air movement. Abandoned buildings are usually used only during the summer, while caves and abandoned mines are preferred in the winter.

Roost sites are generally have open ceilings because Townsend's big-eared bats don't crawl well. They prefer habitats that are almost completely dark and are extremely sensitive to human disturbance, which nearly always causes colonies to relocate.

Range elevation: 457 to 2743 m.

Habitat Regions: temperate ; terrestrial

Terrestrial Biomes: forest ; scrub forest ; mountains

Other Habitat Features: caves